What Can You Do With An Engineering Degree?

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Engineering is the act of designing, building, maintaining, and operating systems, machinery, and structures. What can you do with a degree in engineering? The opportunities are nearly limitless. Engineering careers often pay very well and are not as difficult to come by as many other careers in today’s job market. If you have a passion for learning how machinery, buildings, or systems work, then read on to see if engineering is the right path for your future.

Types of Engineering

Engineering is a very broad subject with all sorts of paths to choose from. If you are interested in learning how things work, consider earning a degree in engineering or a more specific type of engineering. Just a few of the different types of engineering are listed below to give you an idea of what paths you can travel in the world of engineering.

Mechanical engineering

Aerospace engineering

Software engineering

Electrical engineering

Audio engineering

Industrial engineering

Petroleum engineering

Fun fact: Of all the U.S. presidents, Herbert Hoover was the only president listed as having previously been an engineer before becoming president. The majority of U.S. presidents were lawyers prior to accepting presidency.

Engineering Degree Programs

In order to prepare yourself for further education in engineering, you should consult your high school guidance counselor. He or she will be able to advise you as to what courses may help advance your knowledge in specific subjects necessary to understand the basics of engineering. Mathematics and science courses are particularly beneficial if you plan to pursue an engineering degree of any sort. Your counselor may also be able to assist you in finding suitable engineering programs at colleges and universities to help you determine your future.

The College of Engineering at the University of Alaska Anchorage offers multiple degrees in various types of engineering, including a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with the choice of concentration from Computer Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. The university also offers seven additional masters programs related to multiple types of engineering from civil engineering to arctic engineering. UAA is surrounded by places abounding with engineering career possibilities, so students have plenty of opportunities at their fingertips upon graduating from any engineering program at the university.

The University of New South Wales is Australia’s largest engineering school. Opportunities for students at UNSW are plentiful. From aerospace engineering to biomedical engineering to manufacturing engineering and more, the university has nine individual engineering schools in which students can build their knowledge in preparation for any of countless career opportunities in the world of engineering. Students can choose to earn one of 25 undergraduate degrees and many graduate degrees in various fields of engineering, including environmental engineering and computer engineering at this highly reputable Australian university. Students can also generate experience by participating in research programs and engineering projects to best prepare them for careers after graduating with a degree in engineering.

The University of Sheffield is a highly reputable school in the United Kingdom that provides students with excellent engineering possibilities. Programs from chemical and biological engineering to automatic control and systems engineering are meant to educate undergraduate and graduate students in the ways of engineering, providing them with advanced knowledge related to the careers of their choosing. This UK university gives students the opportunity to take advantage of outstanding apprenticeship programs that help them further expand their knowledge and experience in engineering, as well.

Careers in Engineering

The field of engineering holds many different types of careers that you may choose to pursue. Once you decide which path you want to follow, you will be able to form your education around succeeding in that particular career. Your academic advisor at the college or trade school you attend will assist you in choosing courses that will help shape your needs around whatever potential jobs in engineering you decide to pursue.

Entry Level Careers in Engineering

With an associates degree or bachelors degree in engineering, you may find that you qualify for one or multiple positions described in this section.

Electrical Engineer

Electrical engineers ensure that all projects adhere to electrical safety rules and regulations, and they also perform research to assist in the design and construction of electronics that contribute to anything from the entertainment industry to protection agencies. Electrical engineers often find jobs in labs developing and testing new electrical equipment. Electrical engineers just starting out in the field often begin with a bachelors degree in electrical engineering. They have excellent analytical and problem solving skills as well as strong backgrounds in science and mathematics.

Electrical engineers may earn a salary of around $69,000 or more, depending on education and experience levels.

Environmental Engineer

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Environmental engineers research ways to solve environmental problems caused by its inhabitants. They address issues and result to their knowledge in biology, chemistry, and engineering in order to create solutions that benefit the environment. They often work to improve ways to dispose of and manage waste that his harmful to the environment. Environmental engineers are highly familiar with environmental rules and regulations, and they typically possess at least a bachelors degree in environmental science or environmental engineering with great communication, organizational, and research skills.

Environmental engineers can earn over $78,000 annually, based on education and experience levels.

Computer Applications Engineer

As the title implies, a computer applications engineer creates and tests computer applications that are often used both by businesses and individuals. Applications are often designed to solve some sort of problem that many people encounter daily, for example, lack of organization or poor math skills. These engineers have created applications on computers and handheld devices that allow you to perform math problems quickly and accurately and other applications to make your everyday life easier in order to allow you to accomplish more in the few 24 hours you have in each day. Computer applications engineers typically possess computer engineering, software engineering, or computer science bachelor degrees. They are also heavily skilled in mathematics and science and have good communication and organizational skills to work with other engineers and analysts in order to create the best solutions in today’s technology.

Computer applications engineers can earn over $80,000 annually, based on education and experience levels.

Advanced Careers in Engineering

Once you build more experience in the field of engineering after earning an associates or bachelors degree or once you have completed a masters degree or doctoral degree program in engineering, you will most likely qualify for more than one of the positions described here.

Senior Aeronautical Engineer

Senior aeronautical engineers plan and implement flight testings and provide support to departments assisting in the tests. They work with test teams and also may keep records of test results for future use. Senior aeronautical engineers typically possess at least a bachelors degree in aerospace engineering or another related field and years of experience in flight testing and other related activities. They have outstanding written and verbal communication and leadership skills and are highly experienced in aerospace engineering.

Senior aeronautical engineers can earn over $80,000 annually, based on education and experience levels.

Field Support Engineer

In the computer industry, a field support engineer assists in maintaining multiple network servers and the designing of applications for networks in order for employees to connect with one another while maintaining an organized company. Applications can range from messaging tools to those to help improve network security. For advanced positions, companies typically require not only a bachelors degree in computer science, software engineering, or another related field but also years of experience in computer technology. Excellent written and verbal communications are also required.

Field support engineers can earn around $87,000 annually, based on education and experience levels.

Companies that Hire People with Engineering Degrees

Still wondering, “What jobs can I get with an engineering degree?” The need for engineers is constantly growing, so earning a degree in engineering is a wise decision. Companies around the world are in search of people with engineering degrees to become part of their crews. CEOs and company presidents often look to engineers of all sorts for ways to improve their companies and in turn increase business, which contributes to the growing demand of engineers around the world. Below is a list of examples of companies that have jobs pertaining to some form of engineering.

Lockheed Martin – locations across the U.S.; hires positions for environmental engineers, field engineers, flight simulation engineers, aeronautical engineers, operations engineers, etc.

Unistress Corp. – located in Pittsfield, MA; hires positions for structural design engineers, etc.

Kellogg Company – locations around the world; hires positions for plant systems engineers, operations supervisors, process engineers, architectural engineers, etc.

Naval Air Systems Command – locations around the U.S.; hires positions for various types of engineers

Becoming an engineer will allow you to affect the world in ways some people only dream about. Creating roadways, buildings, advanced machinery to complete life-changing projects, and computer software programs and maintaining it all takes hard work and dedication, a certain drive necessary to improve the world. Help make life easier for people everywhere and consider a building a career in engineering.